The Peoria Public Library recently completed their renovation of the main branch on Monroe in downtown Peoria. The interior has been thoroughly modernized, so it no longer has that 1950s feel to it. But modern design is plain and unadorned, giving the library a rather sterile, utilitarian look. The new design has an open floor plan, which takes fewer librarians to oversee. That allowed some of the staff to be moved to the new north branch.
The entrance to the main branch has been moved closer to the parking lot, and the area of the old entrance has been turned into a cafe of sorts — although food and drink selections are limited to a couple of vending machines.
The book checkout area is now completely automated. Librarians don’t check you out anymore — you have to do it yourself. However, it’s a simple process. You scan your library card and put the books you wish to check out on a black pad, and the computer automatically puts the book on your account. You can choose to print out a slip reminding you of the due date.
My favorite part of the library is the local history and genealogy section. This has been moved from the main floor to the first basement — an area that until the renovation was not open to the public. Initially, the local history section had different hours than the rest of the library, but that has been changed. The section is now open the same hours as the rest of the main branch. After doing a quick survey of the materials, it appears that all of the local historical information is still there, but better organized. However, I did not see any “new” materials on the shelves — that is, materials that used to be kept in the back room accessible only to library staff, but now made available directly to the public. The microfilm has gotten a lot of new boxes and labels. The old, hand-crank microfilm readers have been replaced by more modern readers that all have printing capability (10 cents a page). There is even one microfilm reader (available to library staff only) that can scan a microfilm image to digital format. Best of all, the local history staff is still there, so patrons still get the benefit of their institutional memory.
The renovated library gives patrons plenty of space to sit and read, and lots of table space for oversize or multiple books for those doing research. And, of course, there are lots of computers available for online research as well. The library subscribes to many databases, giving patrons access to many materials it would be too expensive to access individually.
Overall, the updates have made the library more modern and functionally efficient.икони на светци
On a different but related subject — Our family visited the North Branch of the library for the first time a week or so ago and were very impressed with the facility, HOWEVER, this new branch of the library still suffers from the same problem we found at the Lakeview Branch, which we used to frequent regularly — AN INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF BOOKS!!!
My teen reader had a list of a dozen or more books she wanted to locate and read and I don’t believe any were hot off the presses and none were available — all checked out (many of the shelves were pretty empty). I explained to her she could put in a request for a book and they would call her, which the library is very good at doing.
Her reaction was — where is the thrill in that. Not the experience you are looking for when you go to the library.
I am thankful for the new library out North, I just hope it can get some more books.
I’ve been to the new downtown library and the North Branch, also. Both are great. I do wish the children’s section of the North Branch had a little more privacy. Each time I have visited there were children running around and screaming with parents either nowhere to be seen or sitting there watching them and saying nothing. The section could have been walled off, but it is not. I do long for the days when libraries were quiet retreats and people whispered. I find many adults speaking in ourdoor voices inside the libraries, too. I do really like the North Branch and it’s pseudo Frank Lloyd Wright design, fireplace and waterfalls. I am looking forward to seeing in the winter, too. It’s well used, because the book I wanted wasn’t there either. It was put on hold and I had it in two days.
A few things to consider on the availability of books on the shelves. The North library was stocked with all new books. It’s a library system – not all the books in the collection are going to be at the one branch you usually visit. Patrons can check out up 50 items at a time and keep them indefinitely – until someone requests the items, unlimited renewals are possible. It makes more things checked out (good and good for library stats) but fewer things available on the shelves for browsing.
So, in what section do the homeless sit and congregate? Oh, it’s not winter yet so maybe they aren’t inside yet, Just wondering.
When it is OPM in the public sector you can build anything you want with no risk (apparently). All the $32+ million is borrowed money meaning that by the time the notes are paid off, the total libraries costs will be around $55-60 million, all paid by property tax owners in Peoria County.
With no money set aside for replacements, usually the case in the [purblic sector, means there wil be a need to float more bonds for your grandchildren to pay.
If they remain in Peoria.
What happened to the antique car built by the Barker Bros. that used to sit in the window on Main St. at the library?
SD — The car is moving to the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Also, I thought it was a Duryea automobile?